MIKE STACK: Philadelphia Finally Has Its Own Lt. Governor

“What truly distinguishes Mike Stack is his progressive leadership and unparalleled 13-year voting record in the Pennsylvania Senate championing universal access to affordable health care, common sense gun reforms, marriage equality, reproductive choice, a greener Pennsylvania, workers’ rights and a fairer economy that lifts everyone.” –Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader

When State Sen. Mike Stack’s grandfather, Michael, departed Ireland and boarded a ship for America three generations ago, he could not have imagined his Great Depression-era journey would take him to the United States Congress where his working-class values would find expression as an FDR New Deal Democrat. As a voice for American workers, Congressman Stack helped pass some of the most important laws in our history, ranging from creating the first minimum wage to establishing Social Security.

The seeds planted by Mike’s grandfather gave root to a rich political and public-service family legacy. His father, the late Michael Stack, Jr., was an attorney, author, college and law professor, distinguished public servant and long-time Democratic ward leader who often found himself at odds with the political power brokers in Philadelphia.

Mike’s mother, Judge Felice Rowley Stack, is the descendant of Irish immigrant “coal crackers” who worked the Schuylkill County anthracite coalfields of eastern Pennsylvania. She started her career as a teacher and subsequently ran a program identifying learning disabilities, a skill set that proved important at home helping young Mike overcome dyslexia, first diagnosed at age six. A Villanova School of Law graduate, Felice Stack served as a member of the Philadelphia Board of Education and later was elected Judge of the Municipal Court. She is now retired from the bench and practicing law.

As Attorney, State Senator And National Guard Officer, Mike Stack Continues The Family Tradition

The family business of public service did not skip a generation with Mike Stack III. After graduating from LaSalle University and Villanova School of Law, Mike joined his father’s law firm where his focus was representing injured workers.

While working as an attorney in private practice, Mike twice ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate. In 2000, after a tenure working as a staff attorney and deputy director in Gov. Robert Casey’s administration, he scored a convincing win over the entrenched Republican State Senator he had challenged twice before, beginning the first of four terms representing the blue-collar Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood where he was raised.

Adding to the legacy of Stack family public service, in 2007 Sen. Stack, with the support of his wife Tonya, enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Answering a call to duty at a time when our country was fighting two wars, Capt. Stack reported to Fort Benning in Georgia for basic training, setting the pace for men several years his junior. After basic, he was assigned to Pennsylvania’s 56th Stryker Brigade. He now spends one weekend a month serving as a Judge Advocate General prosecutor in Division HQ of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

From Acting To Athletics, Mike Stack Is Driven To Perform

Mike Stack brings a quick wit and solid communication skills to the debate, fine-tuned from his work in stand-up comedy and theater. As a card-carrying union member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, Mike’s leading man experience in non-equity theater with Footlighters and King of Prussia Players led to seeking professional roles in film. Among other credits, in the 2009 net series “Finders Keepers”, Mike earned the right to say, “I may not be a cop but I played one on screen.” Off screen, Sen. Stack has a laudable record supporting police and first responders in the General Assembly.

To keep in shape, Mike brings the kind of intensity to exercise that he brings to public service. He is a dedicated marathon runner and triathlete. He has finished six marathons including the Marine Corps Marathon and several CrossFit competitions. However, he believes his greatest athletic accomplishment came in 2014, when he helped save crew as a collegiate sport at Temple University where he serves on the Board of Trustees.

State Sen. Michael J. Stack III, is simply “Uncle Mike” to his 10 nephews and nieces, the next generation of Stacks, courtesy of his three sisters and one brother. Mike and his wife Tonya, a veteran of the hospitality industry, live in the Somerton neighborhood of Northeast Philly.

Altogether, this candidate accumulated the support of 72 local unions.

Among these backers are the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, which is comprised of two District Councils as well as 52 local unions. Stack also won the support of the AFSCME District Council 47 and their nine local affiliates and the four locals of the Labors’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia & Vicinity.

“For the past 13 years, I have been honored to represent one of the highest-density union-member, working-family Senate districts in the Commonwealth,” Stack stated. “Their issues are my issues, always have been and always will be. I am deeply grateful for such overwhelming support.”

The day after his election, Sen. Stack congratulated his campaign staff, their volunteers, and his voters the previous night had been a good night.

“After months of work – knocking on doors, traveling the state, organizing our friends and neighbors and hitting the airwaves – our fight paid off,” he told them. “Thank you. It was your help, your support and your commitment to the values that move Pennsylvania forward that got us here. I don’t mind admitting it, so I’ll say it again – thank you, thank you, thank you. For everything.”

For Mike it was the end of almost a three-year campaign which saw him crisscross the State of Pennsylvania no fewer than four times. Two of those years focused on the Democratic primary race for Lieutenant Governor in which he was challenged for the post by Mark Critz, Brad Koplinski, Brandon Neuman and Mark Smith.

He called them “all good men, each with a rock-solid commitment to the continued success of Pennsylvania. We simply came out ahead, and I wish them each the best of luck in whatever they choose to do next.”

He then spent from that primary until last November campaigning for the election of Gov. Tom Wolf. Again he traveled across the state, while making sure he did not miss every major Democratic event in his home city, Philadelphia.

Now he says, “We’ll be working side by side with Tom Wolf, bringing a fresh focus to the way leadership has guided this Commonwealth.”

Lt. Gov. Stack acknowledges, “Tom has both the business experience we need to help put our economy back on track and the commitment to workers that will make him a tremendous ally in the fight to grow the middle class. He’s a public servant, a community leader, and the right choice for Pennsylvania. And I look forward to standing with him. And all of our priorities – job creation, access to better healthcare, an economy that works for all Pennsylvania families – are now on the front burner.”